Presentation Outline

• What is community forestry?

• Community Forestry in BC

• Our challenges, solutions and successes

The Global Context

• Governments have recognized the important role of communities in sustainable forest management

• Community forestry is happening in every forested country on the planet.

• The World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 resolved to “…recognize and support indigenous and community based forest management systems .“

GLOBAL VISION FOR COMMUNITY FORESTRYIN THE 21ST CENTURY

A CALL TO ACTION 2008

Delegates from 20 countries reaffrmed that:

“Community forestry is an innovative approach that reconnects lands and people, fosters environmental stewardship, promotes social equity and supports

livelihoods...”

In British Columbia

Community forests are established when the government grants management rights to a local government, community group, or First Nation for the beneft of the entire community through a tenure arrangement, or licence.

Examples include• Community Forest Agreements• Forest Licences • Tree Farm Licences

The Community Forest Agreement

• Area based• 5 year probationary license• 25 year renewable long term• Gives communities exclusive rights to harvest timber, as well as the opportunity to manage forest resources such as timber and plant products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic viewscapes.

Government Objectives for the Community Forest Tenure

• Community management of local forests over the long-term

• Manage for a range of community objectives, values and priorities

• Diversify forest management beyond just timber values

• Promote community involvement and participation

• Cultivate environmental stewardship

• Foster innovation

• Advocate for forest worker safety

• Promote communication and strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and persons

Community Forest Timeline in BC

1945 First BC community forest in Mission

1976 Royal Commission

1990s Industrial licenses in Revelstoke, Kaslo, and Creston

1998 Community Forest Pilot Program established

2002 BCCFA formed

2003 Forestry Revitalization Plan- Reallocation of 20% of long term logging rights

2004 Changes to the Forest Act; 1st long term tenure awarded

2005 Program Expansion

2006 Pricing Agreement negotiated

CFA Program Status 10 Year AnniversarySeptember 2008

7 Long Term CFAs Awarded

21 PCFAs Issued

22 Communities Invited to Apply for a PCFA

50 Communities Involved in the Community Forest Program

Community forestry is:

“Decisions being made by people who have to live with the outcome;Finding local solutions to contentious issues;Keeping benefts in the community;A very good idea;One of the hardest things I have ever done!”

- John Cathro, RPF

BCCFA - Local land, local people, local decisions• Serves as the voice and advocate for community forestry in BC

• Works with government to expand community forestry in BC

• Provides input to government to facilitate the success of community forest initiatives

• Provides support to BC communities striving to obtain and successfully implement community forest initiatives

Purposes of the BCCFA

Provincial Policy Education & Networking

Timber Pricing

• Removes all cruising requirements for CFAs

• Provides an 85% rate reduction to the Interior Appraisal Manual Table 6.1

• Provides a 70% reduction to the Average Sawlog Stumpage Rates for the Coast Forest Region.

• Two zones created

Extension Services

2007- 2008

Meetings with 18 communties

Cowichan Lake Community Forest Cooperative

Generously supported by FORREX and the Vancouver Foundation

The Community Forestry Guidebook:Tools and Techniques for Communitiesin British Columbia

Forest Investment AccountProvincial program to improve the forest asset base and support sustainable forest management practices on Crown land.

2007/2008 - $460,0002008/2009 - $650,000

Non Timber Forest Resources

• The rights to harvest, manage and charge fees for botanical forest resources and other prescribed products are granted to CFAs by legislation

• Currently no regulation or tenure mechanism to guide management of NTFPs

• Any regulation must respect First Nations rights and title

• BCCFA is working with the Centre for Non-Timber Resources at Royal Roads University to create an NTFR assessment guide for community forests

A BCCFA Special Project

Opening New Doors: Branding BC’s Community Forests

• Funding received from WD/CEDI, SIDIT, NIDIT and SIBAC

• Production of a CF documentary this fall/winter

Recent Policy Developments

• Community Forest Program Working Group

• Commitment from Government to remove the Probationary Period for Community Forests

• Improved Pricing for the Coast

• Continued Expansion of the Program

BCCFA/MFR Collaboration

BCCFA Submission to the

Working Roundtable

•Long term stewardship through area-based tenures

• More Community Forest Agreements

• Large enough to be effcient, viable and provide communty benefts

• Expansion of open and competitive log markets

• Appropriate pricing system

Annual Conference - Networking, Learning and Planning

2009 Conference and AGM Port Alberni May 28 - 31, 2009

Sechelt Conference 2008

“We don’t work at community forestry, we live it”. Robin Hood

A Likely Story

Likely Museum Project

Over 1000 Visitors in 2008

Promoting Mining History

•Cleaned up a local junk yard •Received a 3.5 Ha. License to Occupy•Partnered with a local mining company •Built access and put in water to the site•Negotiated a cutting permit to maximize the view •Parking , picnic tables and info kiosk

Likely First Response Vehicle